Boas, Franz: Primitive art (Oslo , Leipzig [u.a.], 1927)

234

Art of the North Pacific Coast of North America

which is sometimes described as having a raven’s body with a whale’s
body attached to its head, and a fin attached to the raven’s back. It
is shown in profile with one leg, the dorsal fin, and the tails of raven


Fig. 240. Slate dish with design represent-
ing a killer-whale, Haida.


Fig. 242. Tattooing representing
the moon, Haida.


Fig. 241. Drum painted with design
of an eagle, Tsimshian.


Fig. 243. Carving on the end of a food
tray representing a hawk, Tlingit.

and whale, twisted around so as to be seen from the side. In other
cases it is described as having a bear’s head with the mouth of a shark.
In fig. 240, which represents the design on a circular slate dish,
we see a good case of the adaptation of a profile to the decorative
field. The design represents a killer-whale with two dorsal fins.
The animal is bent around the rim of the dish so that the head